'I'm not trying to shield them from it': Bruce Willis' children have seen his health decline for years

Bruce Willis' children have seen his health decline for years, wife Emma Heming reveals.

In early 2023, Willis' family revealed the actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD) in addition to his previous aphasia diagnosis.

In a new interview with Town and Country, Heming, 46, opened up about how she explained Willis' declining health to their two young daughters Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10.

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The British-American actress said getting the correct diagnosis was important so she could understand 69-year-old Willis' condition and "educate our children".

"I've never tried to sugarcoat anything for them," she told the outlet.

"They've grown up with Bruce declining over the years. I'm not trying to shield them from it."

After tying the knot in 2009, Heming and Willis welcomed their first daughter Mabel Ray in 2012. They had their second daughter Evelyn Penn in 2014.

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Willis also shares three daughters Rumer Glenn, 36, Scout LaRue, 33, and Tallulah Belle, 30, with ex-wife Demi Moore.

The actor was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder, aphasia, in 2022.

Less than a year on from his initial diagnosis, Willis was diagnosed with FTD – a form of dementia that targets behaviour, language and movement.

Later in the interview, Heming shared how the family coped after Willis was diagnosed, revealing she doesn't talk to the children about his disease being non-treatable.

"What I learned from our therapist was that if children ask questions, they're ready to know the answer," she said.

"If we could see that Bruce was struggling, I would address it with the kids so they could understand, but this disease is chronic, progressive, and terminal. There is no cure."

"Obviously, I don't like to speak about the terminal side of this with them, nor have they asked," she said.

"They know that Daddy's not going to get better."

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Following her husband's diagnosis, Heming has become a fierce advocate for FTD awareness.

The businesswoman has continued to share family updates, marking Father's Day with their "favourite girl dad" Willis in June.

Heming shared photos of the actor with all his children.

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